Help Save 18-Year-Old Stephanie from Permanent Paralysis

My name is Kimberley Reid, and I am organizing this fundraiser from the United States on behalf of Ann-Marie Taylor Ellis in Jamaica.

My name is Ann-Marie Taylor Ellis. I am a mother of four daughters, and today I am asking for help to save my 18-year-old child, Stephanie.

On Friday, February 13, Stephanie was involved in a devastating motor vehicle accident. The driver was allegedly speeding and lost control after braking suddenly. The vehicle overturned, and my daughter was thrown from the car onto the roadway.

A passerby rushed her to the hospital immediately, a moment that likely saved her life.

While three other passengers were discharged, Stephanie suffered the most severe injuries and remains hospitalized.

She was first admitted to May Pen Hospital, but due to the seriousness of her condition, she was transferred to Kingston Public Hospital, where she has been since February 16.

Stephanie has sustained:

• A fractured neck

• Spinal damage

• A hip injury

• A serious head wound that required stitches after her head struck the road

Right now, she is in constant pain. Because of the fractures in her neck and spine, even the slightest sudden movement could cause permanent paralysis.

On February 25, doctors gave us heartbreaking news. The funds for surgery must be provided by February 27.

Her bones are beginning to set incorrectly. If the surgery is delayed any further, the damage could become permanent and she may never walk again.

The surgery required on her neck and spine is urgent and time-sensitive. Through great sacrifice and with the help of close members, we have been able to secure a portion of the funds needed. However, we are still short approximately JMD $600,000 to move forward with the operation.

As parents, we are doing everything within our power, but this unexpected medical emergency has placed an overwhelming financial burden on our family.

We are humbly asking for your support. Any contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to giving Stephanie the chance to walk, to heal, and to live the full life she deserves at just 18 years old.

If you are unable to donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser. Your prayers, your kindness, and your generosity mean more than words can express.